About Me

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

This is a picture of me with Mort Petrushansky to my right and a local Indian pastor to my left.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, another year has past and I think it is fitting to reflect upon the past year. This year I did a mission trip to India back in February and did a lot of preaching there. I went to Hyderabad with Mort from Congregation Shalom. I also started working on my Doctorate of Ministry from Houston Graduate School of Theology. I am still in the National Guard serving as a chaplain and my rank is that of captain.

This year I went to an Assyrian-American Convention. It was in San Diego. While there I was able to visit my distant cousins Johnny and Lois. The visit with the Assyrians was very productive. I also met with Aramaic scholar Jan Magiera. I was also able to visit with my brother and his new wife when he visited Nashville. It was good to go back to Nashville, where I grew up, to see my family there. I also went to the major pro-life rally in Austin this year.

I did a couple of video programs with Rosalie Jerome "The Voice of the Word" and "Hanukkah and the Hammer of God" for "The Crossover" program. (The Program is available on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVNT3G8OHlg.)

I also visited with Assyrian National Broadcasting in San Jose California. We recording a program and I met with Ninus, the owner of the studio, who is a nice guy. See the interview: http://youtu.be/aMglKf9hC1I. http://www.anbsat.com/

My "The Language of Jesus: Introducing Aramaic" is continuing to sell well. This years new books include "The Quest for the Historical Moses" and "The Four Principles of Moderate Islam." The book about Moses is written to address archeology and the Exodus in history. I feel that radical Islam is one of the most serious threats in the world today. To combat radical Islam, I have defined what Moderate Islam is. (The Four Principles are no religious violence, Sharia law is a personal lifestyle choice with no legal force, the complete equality of all religions in Islamic countries, and the repudiation of any form of punishment for those who chose to leave Islam.) I also finished "The Hanukkah Comic and Coloring Book" which tells the story of 1 and 2 Maccabees in comic book form. The story of Maccabees is the story of the fight for religious freedom and I think it is a fascinating and relevant story.

I think it is also important to reflect on news and what is going on around the world. First, let us look at the Good News. The ultimate good news is that God loved the world so much that he sent his only begotten son, so that whosoever would believe in him, should not perish, but attain life eternal. Some other Good News is the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. It is disheartening to see the rise of Islamic extremism and the decline of Middle Eastern Christianity. Not only did the Moslem Brotherhood collapse in Egypt, by the end of the year the government of Egypt labeled it as a terrorist organization. It is very unlikely that the Moslem Brotherhood will be able to take over Egypt again. They have proven that they do not have the answers. When we see all the violence carried out in Islam's name, I think that sometimes we do need to answer violence with violence, however, sometimes we should find effective peaceful means to respond. We need to find ways to delegitimize the violent ideology of radical Islam. Unfortunately, leftists sympathize with the radical Muslims and look upon them as an "aggrieved peoples." It is the Coptic and Assyrian Christians who are being killed for their faith in Christ that we should sympathize with and not their killers. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has done an excellent job of discrediting and de-legitimizing themselves. It breaks my heart to see Christians die for their faith, but finally, despite the decades long media black-out, people are hearing about the persecution of Coptic Christians. Other good news includes the success of the "The Bible: The Epic Miniseries." It was widely viewed and now we are going to see more Bible movies, which includes Russell Crowe's "Noah," "The Son of God," and Christian Bale's "Exodus." There are also two movies on Mary coming out "Mary of Nazareth" and "Mary: The Mother of Christ." It is good to see the Bible message encountering the world.

On the other hand, we see a disturbing threat to religious freedom and speech in the censoring of Phil Robertson of "Duck Dynasty" for preaching the Gospel and quoting Scripture, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:8-12). Thankfully, Phil was reinstated. (Considering how much money the network is making from his program, it isn't surprising. What is surprising to A&E, is that a program intended to mock southerners and Christians is successful. I think Americans are hungry for programming that is wholesome and provides traditional values. There is so much filth on the airways now.) Earlier we saw attempted censorship of Kirk Cameron also for preaching the Gospel. It was also encouraging to see the 95 year old Billy Graham boldly preaching the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus Christ on his birthday during his nation-wide televised evangelistic outreach.

Unfortunately, overall, 2013 has been a bad year for freedom of religion and freedom of speech. The federal courts have moved to legalize "homosexual marriage" and polygamy. I have told people that you cannot have one without the other and accurately predicted that the left would take up the cause of bigamy next, as they have. (At least left-wing judges have, and certain media such as CNN, which published an article advocating polygamy.) We have also seen very disturbing reports of religious persecution of Christians in the military and by the Veterans Administration. This is the natural consequence of the advocating of political homosexuality by the government and is also something that I feared would happen. (I believe in tolerance but this political homosexual movement doesn't. They want to silence all those who disagree with them.) Also, these issues are a natural consequence of the results of the presidential elections of 2008 and 2012. Unfortunately, many Americans don't value their freedoms anymore. These social evils and this decadence doesn't bode well for the future of our country. We are also seeing greater intolerance for traditional and biblical morality. I think that it is important to note that the oath of office and the oath soldiers take is to the Constitution of the United States and not to any elected officials. We are entering into an era in which the elected officials represent a threat to the Constitution. I am very concerned about Obamacare, which mandates that Christian organizations pay for abortions and birth control. This is a serious violation of religious liberty. The Supreme Court is useless and now serves as a rubber stamp for the White House. I think this year-2014-is pivotal for the future of America. It is possible, in the next to election cycles, to have a course correction and restore freedom in this country. However, while I do not support the Democrat party, it is evident that the Republican Party is also hopelessly corrupt. Unfortunately, we have a two-party system in America, so the Republican Party is the opposition party we, who love our country and our constitutional liberties, have to work with. I hope to be politically involved this year, and I also hope to work with other conservatives to stand for our traditional values against the political establishment of the Republican Party. I hope there is a "grass roots" uprising that I can be a part of. Unless this country takes a course correction this year-our I fear constitutional republic is doomed.

I am concerned about the situation in Syria and the challenges faced by Assyrian Christians. In Syria this year, the Aramaic Christian village of Maloula, was taken by radical Islamists-twice. I appeared on American Family Radio-"Focal Point" with Bryan Fisher http://youtu.be/fDmt2GdzMh0. Christians have been targeted by radical Muslims in the Middle East. Many Assyrian Christians in northern Iraq are also fleeing the region. While in California I spoke to Father Bazzi, of Saint Peter's Chaldean Church and he told me that their church receives hundreds of destitute Iraqi Christians every year. This year we also need to remember Pastor Yousif Nader-Khani, who was imprisoned for his faith in Iran but has been released and Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American citizen, who is still imprisoned for his faith in Christ in Iran.

I am organizing "Aramaic Christian Ministries" in order to create awareness for the Aramaic and Assyrian Christian heritage and awareness concerning religious persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East.

I also worked on outreach this year, including this advertisement for my book in "Charisma Magazine." I also have tried to start a website www.stephenmissick.com.

I thought that I should also include this picture of two unlikely friends. My pit bull dog Diesel and my cat Seymour. Both are rescues. Diesel was my neighbor's dog. He was ran over. The neighbor didn't want to take him to the vet. After suffering with a broken leg for over three weeks-they let me have him. It was too late to save his leg by that time. So, if you noticed he is a three-legged dog. Seymour is a very friendly cat and loves people and dogs. He often sleeps with Diesel as can be seen above. Seymour was a stray. I discovered him with horrific injuries. I took him to the vet and had him fixed. I am amazed at how well he healed. I thought he was going to die! Both of these animals are big sweethearts. I know people fear pit bulls, but Diesel doesn't have any meanness in him. Diesel can actually get around fine on three legs and can even run as fast as he ever could. Obviously, Diesel was neglected so I have taken care of him, to some extent, since he was a puppy. I also have another cat name Daisy, but she doesn't get along very well with Diesel or Seymour, but they don't fight often. Daisy, of course, was also a stray.

Christmas was busy. I visited with my sister in Temple and then my brother in San Antonio.

Looking ahead to 2014!

I am very optimistic about this New Year. I think that we shall see positive change ahead. I think that we are also going to see political change. Obama has taken this country to left field, it is time to move back to the center. I think many American's want to move back to the center as well. However, there are also foreboding signs. Some people have noticed that there are two "Blood Moons" this year. The first falls on Passover and "Easter" and the other during the Biblical Fall Festivals. I do think that we will see more global conflict this year. I am concerned about Iran's pursuit of a nuclear bomb and I think this issue will come to a head.

It also looks like I might finally be involved in a serious relationship with a woman soon! I have friends, but I don't want to discuss relationship issues until the relationships develop in such a manner to warrant it.

I start off this year by promoting my art, comics and books at Space City Comic Con-at Galveston!

So, what else will I be doing? I will be busy with the doctoral program. I will be implementing a project, probably in 2015, in which I work with local Assyrian Christian to develop and educational program and try to create awareness about the Assyrian (Aramaic) Christian Heritage and issues with religious persecution in the Middle East. I do have "Post 9-11 G.I. Bill" which will help with one year, but I hope I can find some scholarships as well.

Of course I am always working on projects! I hope to finish an illustrated re-telling of the story of Moses this year. Another project is the story of the "other" worshipers of Yahweh. The Jews worshiped Yahweh, but it looks like Yahweh was also worshiped by Arabians (such as Job) and Arameans from the Sinai to the coast of Lebanon, to the city of Hamath. Joram, an Aramaic prince of Hamath, whose name means "Yahweh is exalted," is mentioned as forming an alliance with King David in 2 Samuel 8:10. Recent archeological records tell us more about these non-Jewish worshipers of God from ancient times. Most of these peoples were not descendents of Abraham. I may also be working on the story of St. Thomas in India and a teaching on the Life of Jesus.

More than a year ago, when states began to legalize gay marriage, I argued that polygamy would be the natural result. If love between humans of legal age is the only condition required to have the state issue a marriage license, then it is irrational to assert that two men or two women can have such feelings for one another, while three women and a man, or two men and a woman, cannot.

I have met would-be polygamists who cohabitate as groups and I can tell you that they seemed to be very committed to one another, to be very intimate and to be "in love."

Gay rights groups criticized me for suggesting that their bid for marriage rights would lead to polygamy being green-lighted.

I received threats of being raped and being killed from gay people who didn't like the point I was making and seemed to think I should be brutalized or die for it.

Well, now U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups has found parts of Utah's anti-bigamy law unconstitutional. His ruling comes in a case brought by Kody Brown and his four wives, who are featured in the reality TV show, "Sister Wives."

I believe the U.S. Supreme Court will uphold that finding, if Utah challenges it.

As I predicted, this will officially make marriage the Wild West, in which groups of people can assert that they are married and should have all the benefits of that status, including family health plans and the right to file taxes as married people.

It will also, eventually, lead to test cases in which a few unusual sisters and brothers insist that they can marry, because they are in love and promise not to procreate, but, instead, to use donor eggs or sperm.And, I predict, the courts will agree with them.

Given this dissolution of support for society's vested interest in providing children with a mother and father they can point to with certainty, in households where both genders are equally represented, it is very clear that government should get out of issuing marriage licenses, entirely.

People who wish to create special partnerships of the heart and home should sign prenuptial contracts with one another and then exchange vows at their churches or temples or in front of gatherings of family or special friends.

No different status or privilege should flow to married people, whatsoever. All individuals who earn income should file taxes, separately.

The truth is that government never had a defensible role in marriage. It should always have been the exclusive domain of the individuals and institutions that choose to recognize such interpersonal unions.

Churches should be allowed to define marriage as they wish and offer marriage certificates only to those who comply with their definitions. Temples, just the same. Communes can do it, for all I care. Any organization, in fact, should be able to award the status to anyone they like. But, states and the federal government should have no part in it, whatsoever.

Only child support should be mandatory, because the state has a legitimate interest in ensuring that minors not be without financial resources.

Marriage is over. It was always at least a little funny that a huge percentage of people swore to stay together until death, then divorced and remarried. But, now, it is, officially, judicially, a joke. If two men can marry, and three men can marry, and five women and a man can marry, and three men and two women can marry, then marriage has no meaning. It's over. Go get rings, go get lawyers, go rent a nice hall, but City Hall should bow out.

A message for Christians about America's health care crisis (hint: it's much, much bigger than you think)

Basically, what the author says in this article is that Christians need to put preaching the Gospel and helping those in need preeminent to all else, such a political differences.

Saudis lament, 'we have been stabbed in the back by Obama'

By Richard Miniter, Published December 27, 2013, FoxNews.com

Arabs don't trust Obama either. As 2013 ends, President Obama has lost credibility with many people who trusted him at the start of the year. Surprisingly, the same thing is happening on the other side of the world among Arabs in the Middle East and for the same reason. Too often, Obama's speeches and actions don't match. The Saudi official is referring to Obama's "red line" vow of military action if the Syrian dictator Bashir Assad used chemical weapons against his own people. Assad did and Obama didn't. Saudi officials were stunned. Next came the revelation earlier this year that Obama was secretly negotiating with Iran, the mortal enemy of both Israel and Saudi Arabia. Officials in both nations have told me that they simply don't believe that the president can sweet-talk the mullahs out of the weapons they have coveted for years. "The bond of trust between America and Saudi Arabia has been broken in the Obama years," al-Ibrahim said. "We feel we have been stabbed in the back by Obama." "Every time that Obama had to choose between his enemies and his friends, he always chose his enemies," he said. "We don't know what he's putting in his tea." Al-Ibrahim also pointed to Obama's "dangerous inaction" during violent Iran-backed uprisings in Bahrain, and now his negotiations with Iran, and his separate, secret negotiations with Iran's terrorist proxy Hezbollah. Since American officials cannot legally negotiate with terrorist groups and Hezbollah is a State Department-listed terror organization, the administration has been using British diplomats to carry messages to Hezbollah. The Obama administration reportedly favors a "warm up to a direct relationship in the future" with Hezbollah.

Iraq descends into Chaos

Republican senators on Saturday blamed the Obama administration for Al Qaeda affiliates over-running parts of Iraq, including the city of Fallujah, which the United States secured before President Obama removed all U.S. forces from that country in 2011. Sen. John McCain, Arizona, and Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, called the recent turn of events "as tragic as they were predictable" and suggested Obama misled Americans into believing that Iraqi leaders wanted U.S. forces out of their country. "While many Iraqis are responsible for this strategic disaster, the administration cannot escape its share of the blame," the senators said in a joint statement. "When President Obama withdrew all U.S. forces … over the objections of our military leaders and commanders on the ground, many of us predicted that the vacuum would be filled by America's enemies and would emerge as a threat to U.S. national security interests. Sadly, that reality is now clearer than ever." President Obama has lost leverage with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and thus holds no power to stop recent violence and bloodshed in that country, syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer said Friday on "Special Report with Bret Baier". "America has no leverage, America evacuated," Krauthammer said, "Obama decided we were going to liquidate our presence." Krauthammer said the president's failure to leave a residual element in Iraq to train forces and mediate between local ethnic groups has now hurt American interests. "Obama decided for political reasons that he would evacuate, he'd call it a great victory," Krauthammer said. "He ended the war. But he ended the war in a way that liquidated our gains."

Coptic Christians in Libya threatened with Shariah Law

Libya's recent edict that its coming constitution will be based on Shariah law has sent a chill through the North African nation's small Christian community.

Libya's Coptic Christians, who number about 300,000, or 5 percent of the population, were allowed to practice their faith under dictator Muammar Qaddafi. But since the strongman was ousted from power, and ultimately killed, Muslim fundamentalists have increasingly filled the power void. Last month, the national assembly voted in favor of making Koranic law, or Shariah, the basis of all legislative decisions, meaning Islam will shape all future banking, criminal and financial cases.

Good News! Dependence on Saudi Arabian Islamist Fanatic Oil near an end!

CNSNews.com) – Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a billionaire businessman and nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, said the production of shale oil and natural gas in the United States and other countries, primarily done through fracking, is a real competitive threat to "any oil-producing country in the world," adding that Saudi Arabia must address the issue because it is a "matter of survival."New shale oil discoveries "are threats to any oil-producing country in the world," said Prince Alwaleed in an interview with The Globe and Mail. "It is a pivot moment for any oil-producing country that has not diversified. Ninety-two percent of Saudi Arabia's annual budget comes from oil. Definitely it is a worry and a concern."Alwaleed also commented that many Saudi leaders did not comprehend the threat posed by oil and natural gas production from shale. However, he said he would use his influence to keep pressing the issue."I will make them get it, there is no doubt about that," he said. "I'll make them get it. It is a matter of survival. There is no choice but to get it. I will keep pushing until they do." "The majority of Saudi Arabians get it," said the prince. "We will mobilize the media, mobilize the people to put maximum pressure on the government to do things to rectify the problem."Prince Alwaleed has been warning about the threat posed by fracking shale in places such as the United States and Russia for some time. Back in May 2013, in an open letter to the Saudi oil minister, Ali al Naimi, as translated from Arabic by the Wall Street Journal, Prince Alwaleed said, "With all due respect to your Highness' viewpoint about shale gas and that it poses no danger on Saudi economy at 'the present time,' I was hoping that your Highness would also shed light and focus on the danger of this matter in the 'not-so-distant future,' especially that America and some Asian countries made big discoveries in shale gas extraction which will affect the oil industry around the world in general and Saudi Arabia in particular.""It is necessary to diversify sources of revenue, establish a clear vision for that and start implementing it immediately," said the prince, who added, "we see that raising North American shale gas production is an inevitable threat." - During hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," a mixture of water and sand (99.5%) and chemicals (0.5%) is injected into a deep horizontal well at high pressure, creating fractures in the rock out of which crude oil and natural gas, can flow. Because of fracking the shale deposits in places such as Bakken in North Dakota, Eagle Ford in Texas, and Marcellus in Pennsylvania, the U.S. production of oil and natural gas is increasing dramatically.

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), fracking (and horizontal drilling) has resulted in the United States becoming (in 2010) the world's largest natural gas producer. Also, in October 2013, domestic oil production surpassed the amount of oil imported into the United States for the first time since 1995.

In addition, because of fracking, America is projected to surpass Saudi Arabia and Russia as the largest oil producer in 2015, according to the EIA.

In 2008, the United States was producing 5 million barrels of crude oil per day; because of fracking, America is now producing 7 million barrels per day.

According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), "A little more than a decade ago natural gas production from shale accounted for 2% of total U.S. output. Today that figure is 37%, and another HIS Global study projects that natural gas developed through the use of hydraulic fracturing will rise to more than 75% of the domestic supply by 2035."

I don't know how you people choose moderators, but having that partisan hack like Candy Crowley moderate was a national disgrace, and reflects poorly on you. Why is it too much to ask for a neutral moderator? I am an American citizen and a voter. It is extremely offensive to see a political moderator trying to help her favored candidate win a debate-and then she interrupts the debate-making a claim-that Obama called the Benghazi attacks a terrorist attack-during the debate. He did not. He mentioned terrorism in a general sense. Of course that wasn't clarified until later-meaning that left viewers deceived by the moderator. If a presidential debate is about two Democrats ganging up on a Republican-why should I waste my time watching that? Why have debates? Why should the Republican candidate subject himself to this kind of nonsense? Obviously, the Commission on Presidential Debates must be some kind of Democratic PAC or special interest group. How can I take you people seriously? "The Commission on Presidential Debates" is a national embarrassment and a laughing-stock. I want to know why they let unprofessional jokers like you run the debates? I think that you are incapable of running fair debates and something needs to be done about it before the next presidential election. Why is it that only Democrats in the news media can serve as moderators? What fool is making up these rules? If a liberal clown like Candy can host-why not get some one from Fox like Chris Wallace? I know the Democrats complained about Jim Lehrer-because Obama debated poorly-but my understanding is that Jim Lehrer is another Democrat. Also, to my knowledge Jim Lehrer didn't interrupt the debate waving a piece of paper-trying to save Obama. Debates are important. By attempting to give the Democrats the upper hand in the Debates-this so-called "Commission on Presidential Debates" is endangering the democratic process and something needs to be done to stop you! It is obvious that this so-called "Commission" has an agenda to influence the debates to favor the Democrat Candidate. Your so-called "Commission" is a threat to free and fair elections in the United States. Sincerely, Stephen Missick, Shepherd, Texas

Why Americans cannot detach from what's happening in Iraq

By Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer (ret.)Published January 06, 2014 FoxNews.com

"The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him" -- Sun Tzu

When it comes to warfare, our president is not gifted.

It is clear that Al Qaeda is not "on the run" as put forth by the White House, and the entirety of the Obama administration, in the months and days leading up to the November 2012 election.

It was not true then and the evidence of the falsehood is now more evident than ever. Our allies don't understand it; and our adversaries benefit from it.

We now have proof that the bulk Obama administration's foreign policy is failing – badly.

We now have proof that the bulk Obama administration's foreign policy is failing – badly. The Chinese are willing to take aggressive, destabilizing actions by insinuating new "security zones" in the Pacific and fear no negative reaction from the U.S.

The Russians continue to increase their dominance over the former states of the Warsaw Pac and the Middle East and have no concern about our response.

The Libya conflict was neither "quick nor kinetic" military conflict (taking nearly a year to oust Mummar Qaddafi), and instead we witness the murder of a sitting U.S. ambassador and three other Americans in an Al Qaeda attack.

Egypt and its people remain completely baffled by the Obama administration's support for the Muslim Brotherhood – an entity (the Egyptians) has deemed a "terrorist organization". We have a complete chaos in Syria where the Obama White House has supported Al Qaeda linked militia – which brings me to Iraq.

Let me be clear – I am in the camp that judged our 2003 invasion of Iraq to be unjustified and ill-conceived. But, as General Colin Powell famously said "you break it, you own it" – well – we broke it and we were in the process of helping fix it when President Obama decided to abandon the mission of helping Iraq transition into a representative democracy in August 2010.

We now have Al Qaeda-backed militia take control of Fallujah -- this is a major setback to both Iraq's continued stability and prosperity as well as a signal that the region is moving toward expanded civil and international unrest.

While the Iraqi government claims it will re-take Fallujah "in a matter of days" the situation will not improve and we'll see more Al Qaeda elements taking control of parts of Iraq.

The expanded instability of Iraq is based on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's support for the Iranians (and the Shia Muslims) and continued isolation and marginalization of Sunni Muslim groups has resulted in the continued destabilization of Iraq.

What we, the U.S. left, in 2010, as a nascent democracy is slowly devolving into a religious theocracy, and in doing so moving more and more toward civil war.

The situation in Iraq mirrors that of Egypt before the removal of President Morsi.

During Morsi's year in office he went about instilling his political allies in all offices of government, and marginalizing all others for the purpose of a permanent Muslim Brotherhood controlled government – this is what Maliki now seeks: to instill permanently Shia Muslim control of Iraq.

This White House has supported both of these leaders – and in doing so gone against our own American values of defending democracy. Further, the support for these leaders has resulted in a demonstrative destabilization of both nations.

But unlike Egypt, in Iraq we had the option to have and maintain a military and diplomatic presence – we had the option to remain involved in helping that nation move into a tradition of democracy.

However, our premature departure from Iraq, driven by this White House, has allowed for President Maliki to become radicalized to the point that his own actions supporting the Iranians (Shia) have embolden pro-Al Qaeda militants and given them the upper hand and left President Obama with zero influence or options; in other words, there is no way for President Obama to "impose his will" on our enemies.

Had we remained, at least for a few more election cycles, it is likely that the Iraqi democracy would have matured and become more robust (I will not say stable – as any democracy, done well, will maintain a degree of friction between parties and groups).

There is no doubt that had we had a close relationship – and continued military presence, that Iraq would not have been allowed to allow Iran to use its airspace, and therefore become the key rallying point for the Shia uprising (and pro-Al Qaeda success):

Ok – you ask – why does this matter to us? Most Iraqis did not want us there to begin with. While I feel the original invasion was not justified, we cannot now, after we created the situation, afford to be disengaged and detached from these actions for two reasons.

First – for better or worse: oil. While we as a nation are becoming more and more energy independent, our allies and competitors depend on Middle Eastern oil – we must be aware, and involved in this, to defend our own interest, even if we don't need the oil.

Second – terrorist groups will continue to re-generate and seek to attack the homeland. The Global War on Terror is not done – it has transitioned. And it is al Qaeda's franchises (such as this example in Iraq) are growing strong – with the intent to subvert our allies, and, eventually, be able to project attacks back into the U.S. homeland.

This is not a new problem – but it is getting worse.

Instead of dealing realistically with threats we face, White House and Pentagon leadership spend time on "science fictionalized" threats.

In military institutions, even with the Syria crisis at hand, they were not permitted to conduct military exercises regarding Syria – having to "invent" scenarios as to not offend politicians and their bizarre sensibilities.

We are not even permitted to look directly at the adversaries we face – and the result of which is the chaos we now see as the product of our foreign policy; we no longer have a "reality" based threat understanding.

There are real issues we need to examine and develop strategies to face them directly – at this point, the Obama administration has not, and there is no indication that it will have a cohesive foreign policy anytime soon.

This has to be fixed – and it is in our interest to work directly to support those nations who are attempting to transition and establish a tradition of democracy is something we must do.

Iraq may be too far gone – due to neglect by this White House – that does not mean we can afford to sit on the sidelines and simply "lead from behind" as we watch our friends and allies slide into chaos.

Pulling most of our troops out of Iraq was a good idea. Pulling all of our troops out-was folly and squandered all the gains we made and that we paid for with the blood of our heroes. It isn't just Americans that are suffering because of this idiot in the White House-but Iraq and the whole world.

How are we going to endure three more years of Obama? God help us! This man never worked a day in his life. His only accomplishments are his two autobiographies-ghost written by the terrorist Bill Ayers-who tried to kill American soldiers-These autobiographies show how full of himself he is-he is an arrogant meglomaniac.

In one attack, a car bomb went off near a church during Christmas Mass in the capital's southern Dora neighborhood, killing at least 26 people and wounding 38, a police officer said.

A little bit earlier, a bomb ripped through an outdoor market in the nearby Christian section of Athorien, killing 11 people and wounding 21, the officer added.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but Iraq's dwindling Christian community, which is estimated to number about 400,000 to 600,000 people, has often been targeted by al-Qaida and other insurgents who see the Christians as unbelievers.

Along with Christians, other targets include civilians in restaurants, cafes or crowded public areas, as well as Shiites and also members of the Iraqi security forces, who are targeted in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government and stir up Iraq's already simmering sectarian tensions.

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Wednesday's bombings came amid a massive military operation in Iraq's western desert as authorities try to hunt down insurgents who have stepped up attacks across Iraq in the past months, sending violence to levels not seen since 2008.

The Christmas Day attacks brought the total number of people killed so far this month in Iraq to 441. According to U.N. estimates, more than 8,000 people have been killed since the start of the year.

Christmas a day of terror for Christians in Iraq, say human rights groups

By Cristina Corbin

Published December 30, 2013

FoxNews.com

While millions of Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas, a dwindling number of believers in Iraq will be forced to mark the birth of Christ in private, if at all.

Christians are afraid to put up a Christmas tree or other decorations, according to one Christian pastor in Iraq. Such displays of faith in an increasingly extremist nation can bring threats and violence, say human rights groups. Christian churches must be regularly guarded, but congregants are even more on edge during their holiest days.

"There's a culture of fear that has developed there that makes it hard for people to want to go to church to express their faith, especially at the holiday season," David Curry, president and CEO of the organization, told FoxNews.com. "These extremist groups desire religious cleansing and they're increasing in number particularly in northern Iraq" -- once considered a safe haven for Christians.

Iraq, which was once home to more than 1 million Christians, has seen an exodus as persecution has risen, according to Open Doors, a human rights group which monitors treatment of Christians in the Middle East. There are now an estimated 330,000 Christians in Iraq, and the nation ranks No. 4 on Open Doors' 2013 list of nations considered the worst persecutors of Christians. North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan rank as the top three.

"We're deeply concerned that Christianity is being squeezed out to extinction maybe in the next decade or so in the Middle East," Curry said. "Some of these countries, especially Iraq, have environments that are very hostile because of extremists in the region."

Curry said the consequences for practicing Christianity range from threats and harassment to homes attacked and businesses ransacked, to physical assaults on worshippers -- violence that continues to force Christians to flee the country.

On Sept. 22, a bomb was detonated outside the home of Christian politician Emad Youhanna in Rafigayn, part of the Kirkuk province, wounding 19 people, including three of Youhanna's children.

Open Doors is in contact with various church leaders on the ground, many of whom report that there are attacks on Christians every two or three days.

A pastor in Iraq, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said common Christian traditions, such as purchasing a Christmas tree or decorating a home, are no longer observed out of fear of persecution. Many Christians have even lost their jobs over their faith, according to the pastor and others on the ground.

One of the group's field workers, identified only as William, said, "It remains urgent to pray for the future of Christianity in this country. If the present trend continues, there might be no Christian left in the whole of Iraq by 2020."

Last week, Archbishop of Baghdad Louis Raphael I Sako told a conference in Rome that the West must help stem the "mortal exodus" of Christians from the Middle East.

"Suffering became an everyday struggle for all Iraqis, but especially for Christians," Sako told a conference called "Christianity and Freedom: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives."

Since 2003, more than 1,000 Christians have been killed in Iraq, and more have been kidnapped and tortured, Sako said. Some 62 churches and monasteries have been vandalized or even destroyed, he said.

A fraction of the 1.2 million Christians who lived and worshipped in Iraq in 1987 remain, Sako said, adding that the "numbers continue dropping."

The United Nations Committee for Refugees recently stated that 850,000 Iraqi Christians have left since 2003.

Central African Republic: 450,000 Christians flee from Muslim attacks

The media, of course, obfuscates the root cause yet again. "450,000 Christians Flee From Muslim Attacks in the Central African Republic," by Pierre Leblanc and Lee Jay Walker for Modern Tokyo Times via Asia News, November 27 (thanks to Filip):

The United Nations is demanding immediate support for the Central African Republic (CAR) during a very difficult period. Apparently over 450,000 people have fled their homes after the Muslim dominated Seleka took power and began persecuting Christians irrespective of the alleged government of national unity during the transitional period. Not surprisingly, Christians are trying to protect themselves against Muslim forces within Seleka which are clearly out of control. Therefore, bloodletting is sowing the seeds of distrust and clearly the international community needs to do something before the crisis reaches a point of no return.

Unlike Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, and in other nations, whereby various sects are persecuted, it is clear that in the CAR -- just like in South Sudan -- that Christians will not just sit back and wait to be slaughtered or become trapped in ghettoes. It is hoped that the international community will be fair in pointing out the real factors behind communal violence. After all, it is clear that religious tensions erupted after Seleka troops began to ransack Christian areas. However, the same media which always points out the "Buddhist" angle in Myanmar (more Christians have been killed in Myanmar than any other non-Buddhist religion in the last few decades) in relation to the persecution of Muslims in this country; they appear to loathe to point out massacres by Muslims forces in the CAR against Christians; just like the persecution of Buddhists and others in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is barely mentioned in Bangladesh.

In must be remembered that when less than two thousand people had been killed in Kosovo the West intervened rapidly and took this part of Serbia away from the indigenous Orthodox Christians. Yet when northern Cyprus was occupied by Turkey and Orthodox Christians were cleansed then Western nations did zilch apart from sell more military arms to Turkey. Similarly, when millions of black African Christians and Animists were massacred in Sudan (many forced into slavery and forcibly converted to Islam) you never had the threat of Western intervention. Likewise, the mainly Christians of West Papua are currently facing Javanization and Islamization in Indonesia but the world is turning a blind eye once more just like they did when the Catholic Timorese were massacred in vast numbers by the same forces.

Elizabeth Kendal reports in Christian Today that the "Central African Republic is French-speaking and its population is around 76 per cent Christian. On Sunday 24 March 2013, Seleka -- a coalition of local and foreign Arabic-speaking Islamic militias -- seized control of the capital, Bangui, in an orgy of violence and looting."

The same author reports that Christian militias are now retaliating and massacres against Muslims are happening based on the actions of Muslim forces within Seleka. Indeed, just like you have countless militias in Libya then it is difficult to define Seleka because many are mere rogue elements which are focused on economic goals alongside anti-Christian persecution. However, while religious agitation wasn't enforced by the usual Christian leaders of the CAR, it is abundantly clear that you have an Islamist cause within all the chaos and common criminality of forces within Seleka and clearly the so-called government of national unity isn't in control of the situation.

Christian Bishop Albert Vanbuel stated "a rebellion of religious extremism with evil intentions, characterized by profanation and planned destruction of religious buildings, especially Catholic and Protestant churches" is now in power. In other words, the new government under Djotodia is based on an agenda which threatens the religious mosaic of the CAR because elements within Seleka clearly have a religious angle....

(Reuters) - Some European countries will send troops to support a French-African mission to restore order in Central African Republic, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday, as more violence was reported outside the capital Bangui.

France has deployed 1,600 troops to its former colony to prevent worsening violence between Christian militias and largely Muslim Seleka rebels who ousted ex-President Francois Bozize.

Fifty percent of the population of CAR are Christians (Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%), while 35% of the population maintain indigenous beliefs. Islam is practiced by 15% of the country's population,[7] but by nearly all members of the ruling Seleka group, including the President. There are many missionary groups operating in the country, including Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Grace Brethren, and Jehovah's Witnesses. While these missionaries are predominantly from the United States, France, Italy and Spain, many are also from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries. Missionaries left the country when fighting broke out between rebel and government forces in 2002–3, but many of them have now returned to continue their work.

Duck Dynasty Censored!

Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion are the foundations of America. These attempts by the Left to marginalize sincerely held religious beliefs are disturbing and a threat to freedom. Islam shares the same beliefs about homosexuality that many conservative Christians hold. Would the Left support Muslims being fired for expressing their sincerely held religious beliefs? Of course not. It is only Evangelicals that the Democrat Liberal Establishment that controls the News Media, Academia, Publishing, and Entertainment seek to destroy. Americans must aggressively oppose these attempts to censor the Bible and biblical beliefs. I am not going to allow liberals to diminish or limit my freedom of speech and religion. Stand up to the intolerance of the Democrats NOW-before they begin overt persecution of Christians. That day is not far off. Coptic and Assyrian Christians are already being murdered for their faith-as are Christians in Central African Republic. It seems to me that the liberals don't mind that kind of treatment of Christians-and want to see that here as well. Phil doesn't hate homosexuals-he just doesn't agree with their lifestyle. He has a right to his beliefs and the right to freely express them.

Excellent article on The Duck Dynasty Controversy:

The Genuine Conflict Being Ignored in the Duck Dynasty Debate

An evangelical Christian points out that there is, in fact, a tension between orthodox Christianity and homosexuality. Saying otherwise robs American society of an honest debate about how to reconcile sexual tolerance with religious tolerance.

Tolerance is not the same thing as acceptance, and acceptance is not the same thing as an endorsement. The message A&E's decision sends is that there is zero tolerance on television for Christians who are conscientious objectors to homosexuality. More than that, it implicitly suggests that the campaign for tolerance has advanced to a campaign to pressure 45 percent of Americans to recant their beliefs and endorse a lifestyle to which they are opposed, conscience be damned.

We stand at a crossroads. The country must decide. Is the endgame here to be that orthodox Christians will henceforth have no voice within their own culture? If so, does this mean we have become a nation of bullies, forcing conformity while calling it tolerance?

A&E goes duck hunting, shoots self in foot

By Dan Gainor Published December 19, 2013 FoxNews.com

Talk about defecating in Sarah Palin's mouth? You are allowed to resign a few weeks later. Be known as an actor with a violent temper and anger issues who even called his daughter a "pig," you get rewarded with your own MSNBC show. But run afoul of the LGBT police at GLAAD and you are pulled from one of the most successful shows on cable TV.

That's not reality television, that's the reality of television, where traditional values are hated even when they bring in big ratings. And liberal attacks are tolerated until even liberals can't stomach the result.

"Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson was quoted in GQ describing how homosexuality is, newsflash, a sin. (He also discussed many other sins, but they don't all have activist defense organizations – yet.) Yes, he did so in his typical folksy way which some might call inartful, but what he said was straight from the book. THE book – the Bible.

And the network execs couldn't stand it, bowing instantly to the gay agenda as practiced by GLAAD. Free markets have nothing to do with TV. It's all now about not offending some victim group.

And it's not about free speech either. TV networks want nothing to do with that archaic concept. They only support free speech they agree with and that most diehard lefties approve.

The conflict was inevitable. Television used to love people from what the media call flyover country. TV scored with hits such as "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Green Acres," "Hee-Haw," and "Mayberry RFD." Those were celebrations where Americans were reminded of their roots. And when country met city, it was always country that won out with homespun wisdom triumphing over big-city egos and fancy degrees.

But "Duck Dynasty" comes from another era where TV doesn't celebrate ordinary people, it mocks them. This is the time of "Honey Boo Boo," and "Buckwild," the "Jersey Shore" style shows about rural people. These programs were designed so coastal liberals could watch and mock and feel better about themselves while reading their New York Times. That's likely what A&E bosses thought they had with "Duck Dynasty."

Boy, were they wrong.

A&E created a show that tried to make fun of rustic rubes and discovered it had inadvertently created the opposite. Instead of Hollywood values triumphing as we watched the stars' backward ways, traditional values won out every time. They weren't Obama's bitter clingers. They cared for each other and kept their faith close. Each episode even ended in a family prayer. Before network execs could try to figure out what John 3:16 meant, they had created a program where faith, family and freedom ruled.

And it became wildly popular.

The bearded stars soon were everywhere, with promotions seemingly in every store. That success didn't matter. The network still wanted to rein in its stars. Back in April, Phil Robertson said the network had even wanted to delete mentions of "Jesus" from the family prayer, trying to bleep the Savior like He was a four-letter word.

A&E didn't want its high-profile stars mentioning Jesus. And it sure didn't want them saying anything else out of the Bible. When Phil did, GLAAD cried foul and that was it.

That's GLAAD's typical strategy. It's a hardcore lefty organization that wants to ban opponents to gay marriage from the airwaves – even the news shows. It even helped get liberal Alec Baldwin kicked off MSNBC. It runs its Commentator Accountability Project that tries to brand traditional marriage supporters as "extreme" and not worthy of TV time. Its list of commentators reads like a Who's Who of the conservative movement. Yet to GLAAD, they "do not accurately represent the 'other side' of" gay issues.

To the left there is no other side. There's only their side. All other views must be silenced.

Dan Gainor is the Boone Pickens Fellow and the Media Research Center's Vice President for Business and Culture. He writes frequently about media for Fox News Opinion. He can also be contacted on Facebook and Twitter as dangainor.

Nazarene Arab Christians to Honor Jesus

As Christians from across the globe flock to the Holy Land in time for Christmas prayers and ceremonies, some in the community in Nazareth are seeking to reaffirm the historical importance of their town by erecting a statue of Jesus that would tower more than 100 feet above the city.

The idea for the statue comes from Bishara Shlayan, a Christian merchant seaman who lives in Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. Shlayan has seen the demographics of Nazareth change considerably in recent years, with the Christian community becoming a minority while the Muslim population has grown to 70 percent of the 80,000 residents of the northern Israeli town.

"Slowly, but surely, the Christian identity in Nazareth is beginning to disappear," said Shlayan, noting that signs in the main square declare that "There is no power but Allah."

The plan is for the statue of Jesus to be sit atop Mount Precipice, also known as the Mount of the Leap of the Lord, the promontory where according to Luke 4:29-30, a mob attempted to drive Jesus off the hilltop only for him to pass through them without injury. Shlayan is raising money for the project, but recently got what may be even more important backing: Israel's Tourism Minister Uzi Landau gave him the green light, saying, "Start it, and we will bless it."

"I don't believe in statues, but it is a symbol of love and peace," Shlayan told The Jerusalem Post. "People who are against it, it comes from jealousy."

The statue is inspired by the iconic Christ the Redeemer figure that dominates the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, but would be even taller, said Shlayan.

In addition to honoring the town's most famous resident, the statue could prove a boon to tourism. Last year, some 3.5 million tourists visited Israel, of which 58 percent were Christians. Mount Precipice is the starting pointing of the already popular Gospel Trail, a 37-mile pilgrim route that opened in 2011, winding down from the heights of Nazareth and ending at Capernaum, 680 feet below sea level, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Shlayan's dream is not shared by the Muslim majority, which has long considered his outspoken Christianity troublesome. But he has worked to build ties with Israel's Jewish population. Together with Father Gabriel Naddaf, a high-profile Greek Orthodox priest, Shlayan created the B'nei Habrit Christian Party of Israel. Although yet to be officially registered, the party has encouraged young Christians to join the Israeli military as a route to full integration into Israeli society. In 2013, the first year of their campaign, the number of Christians volunteering for military service has risen to 120 from 35, while the number volunteering for civilian national service has more than doubled to 500.

Muslims and Christians have co-existed in Nazareth for many years, but lately many of Nazareth's Christians have left to live elsewhere, uneasy at the changing face and apparent new direction of their town. In 2002, following a two-year campaign by local Christians as well as the Vatican, the White House and an array of both Catholic and Protestant organizations, a controversial plan to build a new mosque alongside the Basilica of the Annunciation was eventually cancelled.

Paul Alster is an Israel-based journalist who can be followed on twitter @paul_alster and at www.paulalster.com

'Duck Dynasty' Star's Firing Proves You Will be Made to Care by Steve Deace December 23, 2013 - 12:46 PM - See more at: http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/steve-deace/duck-dynasty-stars-firing-proves-you-will-be-made-care#sthash.P87s3KdK.dpuf

A nation founded by pilgrims seeking out religious freedom, and the chance to worship the God of the Bible without interference from big government or persecution from the culture, has now come full circle.

In August, Duck Dynasty returned for another season with a record 12 million viewers, which was the largest audience for an original show in the history of cable television.

Four months later one of its stars, Phil Robertson, was essentially fired today by A&E Network which carries the show because he's a Christian that believes the Bible. And the Bible teaches homosexuality is a sin and goes against God's plan for His creation.

You will be made to care.

When a network fires arguably its biggest star for believing the Bible, and expressing those views in a way that was not inflammatory or incendiary, it's essentially saying it would rather bow at the altar of political correctness than make a profit. Duck Dynasty has become A&E's biggest cash cow. If Duck Dynasty and all the wealth, jobs, and prosperity its success provides cannot trump the homosexual agenda, then nothing can. Pop culture is essentially choosing the promotion of sexual deviancy even over its own greed. The truth is many companies in corporate America have been doing the same for years now, and so does most of the media as well. The tolerance mob and its gaystapo are out to silence all opposition to their brave new world of deviancy.

You will be made to care.

This is a day and age where the government can order you to bake a cake, take photos, and provide lodging in the name of acceptance of homosexuality-and you're not allowed to conscientiously object on religious grounds. In fact, your Constitutional rights to religious liberty and free speech will be taken away in order to make way for the new, make believe right to sexual deviancy.

This is no longer the America we were supposed to be, and it hasn't been for quite some time. This is no longer about saving the republic. This is about restoring one.

Let the record show which side are the ones pushing their agenda down everyone's throats, and using the coercive force of government and mobocracy tactics to bully its opponents. Let the record show that the sad truth is too many Christians in America are too wimpy to fight back, and actually are more inclined to criticize those fighting for them instead. Nevertheless, although most American Christians would gladly choose a "live and let live" fantasy land rather than actually taking a stand, that option does not exist. The bully aggressors in the tolerance mob have ordered their gaystapo to seek out and silence Biblical teaching and belief regardless of the wimp factor of the believer.

You will be made to care.

Soft-headed conservatives and libertine libertarians now have a choice to make. Either they can realize the homosexual movement is an enemy to freedom and liberty, and is being used by those who want to impose statism in order to silence the Christian Church, which has always been the greatest obstacle to statism. Or, they can continue their willful ignorance and continue to believe the lie neutrality is a viable option. Understand, of course, that if you choose the Neville Chamberlain road the statists will take you down next after they're done driving the Christian Church into the cultural catacombs. And without a vibrant, bold, and courageous church shining its light in the darkness, you'll be as vulnerable as a flock of ducks on a Robertson family hunting trip.

You will be made to care.

Our low-information-voter friends and family with their equal signs as Facebook avatars are this movement's useful idiots. They may think it's none of their business what consenting adults do in their own bedrooms, but the homosexual movement begs to differ. They are making their behavior very public, and have no intention of co-existing with religious liberty anymore than Islamists want to co-exist with Christians and Jews. There is no co-existence, there is only unconditional acceptance. And that unconditional acceptance will also have to include you and your children's belief system-no exceptions. No more gender, no more morality, and no more restraint.

You will be made to care.

Now that everyone knows once and for all where the tolerance mob truly stands, there are no excuses. Your friends and family that think they can have it both ways will eventually turn against you unless they come to know and worship the God of the Bible, so they can avoid being shunned by the culture.

You will be made to care.

You will eventually see American media, even "conservative media" in some circles, refuse to provide those with a Biblical worldview access to their platform or treat their perspective as a valid one worthy of consideration in the arena of ideas. Christians with a Biblical worldview will be treated like racists, even if they're black or Hispanic.

You will be made to care.

Any politician who thinks he can incorporate even 1% of this worldview into his coalition is either a complete and total moron, or speaking to you with a forked tongue. Ask yourself this simple question: has the tolerance mob shown any willingness to tolerate, accommodate, or compromise with Christianity at all? Any politician who claims the contrary is either too gutless to defend your freedoms or unwilling to, and isn't worth voting for no matter what the alternative is because the end result is still the same-liberty lost.

You will be made to care.

I will be mocked by lefty blogs and called paranoid by some of you for even writing this. But that's because you're either a liar or a fool. Most of you are liars, and have been lying to the American people for decades about your true goals to turn America into a pagan, progressive mobocracy-which are now becoming clear.

The rest of you are fools. You just don't want to know because you're governed by nothing other than emotion. Regardless, all of you are the same people who promised us if we accepted homosexuality as the new normal nobody would lose their freedom, and that those of us who warned the country to the contrary were scaring people with red herrings. Now that the day has come when those red herrings have become our reality, you are silent-proving you're either liars, fools, or both.

But I am not angry with you. Instead, I pity you, for you are unknowingly sealing your own fates. You are suppressing the only antidote to the hole in your own souls, and what's rotting away at the soul of our nation. While you may be successful imposing your will on people who believe like me in this life, all of your predecessor persecutors throughout history have learned in eternity that you're on the losing side of HIStory.

So instead of encouraging those like me to give you a taste of your own medicine, I will encourage them to pray for you instead. You've already lost this debate, but you don't have to be eternity's losers. The Lord Jesus Christ you seek to erase from public view offers you forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. He's willing to erase all of your offenses against him, just as he once erased ours. He loves you every bit as much as he loves those you disagree with. He loves you so much he laid down his life for you.

We pray that you figure that out before it's too late. Otherwise, one day...

A&E's indefinite suspension of "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson over his comments regarding homosexuality, and the subsequent backlash, is an important cultural moment in American life.For the first time in decades, traditionally religious Americans have come out of the closet en masse to speak out against anti-religious bigotry from proponents of gay rights. This, in turn, has made many on both the right and left uncomfortable: uncomfortable with a loud and proud segment of religious believers standing up for the expression of Biblical views, and uncomfortable with the notion of such religious believers being allotted a seat at the political and cultural table.In all likelihood, Robertson will eventually be reinstated by A&E. In the meantime, we can learn some valuable lessons from this culture clash.Hollywood hates conservatives and kowtows to GLAAD. It's been an open secret in Hollywood for years that the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation routinely prescreens many television shows and movies, vetting them for anti-homosexual biases.This began in the 1980s, when NBC actually invited the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to provide input on programming. CBS has changed the writing of its shows to add gay characters after receiving a flunking grade from GLAAD; GLAAD forced the Vince Vaughn flick "The Dilemma" to cut a joke about an electric car being "gay." The story is different with conservatives. Anti-religious bigotry runs rampant on television, which is why A&E tried to cut "Jesus" from the Robertson family prayers. It is no surprise to find that GLAAD called A&E before A&E dropped Robertson.Americans like conservatives on TV. Conservatives are routinely pilloried on television. A&E likely greenlit "Duck Dynasty" in the first place because executives believed Americans would laugh at the redneck antics of the self-described "white trash" family. This is the same reason CBS originally greenlit "All in the Family" — it believed Norman Lear's Archie Bunker would be universally derided. Robertson is no Bunker, but they do have this in common: The American people resonated to them. And liberals in Hollywood can't stand when Americans resonate to conservatives on television.Too many conservatives are uncomfortable with religious conservatives. A shocking number of conservatives simply want the "Duck Dynasty" controversy to go away. Many of them think talk of the Bible is uncouth, and that conservatives should ignore cultural battles, instead focusing on economics. The truth, however, is that the conservative movement is animated in large part by Bible believers — and by ignoring that constituency and great good it represents, coastal conservatives do the entire movement a disservice.The media don't understand or want to understand sin. The attempt by the media to portray Robertson as homophobic is a deliberate misreading of religious Americans. The media set up a dichotomy in which you are either pro-homosexuality or someone who wants to brutalize homosexuals. This is not the view of the Bible, which makes clear that sin is common and ought to be condemned, but that human beings have the capacity for repentance. The left masks its distaste for the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality in a straw man argument that Bible believers are violent bigots. They are not. Citing the Bible doesn't make you a bigot against human beings — it makes you a bigot against sin, which is a good thing.The market works. Presumably, A&E thought that it would avoid market trouble by suspending Robertson. But it looks as though A&E will pay a heavy market price for its decision-making. Cracker Barrel originally pulled "Duck Dynasty" merchandise starring Robertson; the market forced Cracker Barrel to reverse itself. It has been decades since conservatives used their market power in the way leftists routinely do. With both Chick-fil-A and "Duck Dynasty," they are learning that the market is the best way to act out their beliefs.In the end, the "Duck Dynasty" controversy is a lesson in leftist intolerance. In leftist America, babbling for 11 hours about the moral imperative of killing unborn 21-week-old children is a virtue, while citing Corinthians is sin. Traditionally religious Americans must take note of this clash of values and recognize that the culture war is indeed a war for the spiritual soul of the country. An anti-Biblical America is a worse America. - See more at: http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/ben-shapiro/5-lessons-duck-dynasty-controversy#sthash.1XheDB2J.dpuf

An Israeli researcher says she has identified a nearly 2,000-year old textile that may contain a mysterious blue dye described in the Bible, one of the few remnants of the ancient color ever found.

Naama Sukenik of Israel's Antiquities Authority said Tuesday that recent examination of a small woolen textile discovered in the 1950s found that the textile was colored with a dye from the Murex trunculus, a snail researchers believe was the source of the Biblical blue.

Researchers and rabbis have long searched for the enigmatic color, called tekhelet in Hebrew. The Bible commands Jews to wear a blue fringe on their garments, but the dye was lost in antiquity.

Sukenik examined the textile for a doctorate at Bar-Ilan University and published the finding at a Jerusalem conference Monday.

Women, wake up, men have made your life better, not worse

By Suzanne Venker, Published December 31, 2013. FoxNews.com

There's a reason the text version of Camille Paglia's opening statement at the Munk Debate, "Resolved: Men Are Obsolete" garnered 10K likes on Facebook and received more than one thousand comments at Time.com: it hit a nerve. It was a nerve that needed to be hit, and Paglia did it beautifully. Not only was her choice of words fitting, she delivered them with the perfect amount of exasperation. America must revisit its distorted view of gender equality, implored Paglia, and start being fair to the other half of the human race. It's time to stop pretending men are oppressors and to start recognizing the extraordinary contributions men have made to society. Paglia says, "History must be seen clearly and fairly: obstructive traditions arose not from men's hatred or enslavement of women but from the natural division of labor that had developed over thousands of years during the agrarian period and that once immensely benefited and protected women, permitting them to remain at the hearth to care for helpless infants and children. Over the past century, it was laborsaving appliances, invented by men and spread by capitalism, that liberated women from daily drudgery."

She adds, "Every day along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, one can watch the passage of vast oil tankers and towering cargo ships arriving from all over the world. These stately colossi are loaded, steered and off-loaded by men. The modern economy, with its vast production and distribution network, is a male epic, in which women have found a productive role — but women were not its author."

It is a truth rarely acknowledged: Men's success in fields such as medicine, engineering and technology have done more to liberate women from the constraints of their former lives than a busload of feminists could ever hope to do.

In almost every era, it was a male invention that provided women with the means to an easier life.

- In the 1940s, it was the washing machine.

- In the 1960s, it was the birth control pill.

- In the 1990s, it was the Internet. Other inventions include electric lighting, the sewing machine, the frozen food process, and the automobile. Such inventions changed everything.

In the past, just getting through the day was a full-time job. Those days are now gone -- because of men.

It is their ingenuity and hard work that provided women, mothers in particular, with what they've always craved: time. It gave them the kind of cushy lives our grandmothers could only dream about.

If men are born Neanderthals, as the culture suggests, why would they create products that ease women's burden? Only those who carry a grudge as a result of personal biases would ignore this fact and instead blame society for their woes.

Paglia understands this temptation. "I discovered through a long process of search as a dissident personality…I did not identify at all with my gender role as a child and blamed society completely for everything…But through the course of study and research, I began to understand that it's actually Mother Nature who is, at this point in history, women's greatest obstacle," she tells interviewer Rudyard Griffiths about women's interminable quest to "have it all."

Unfortunately, most elite feminists, such as those who opposed Paglia at the Munk Debate, haven't made this discovery, and they're not likely to do so.

This group needs something to do with their "putative leftism," or "implicit privileging of bourgeois values and culture," notes Paglia.

The irony is that it's because of the sweet life men created that these women even have time to ruminate over their place in the world -- and demonize the very group to whom they should be indebted.

"A peevish, grudging rancor against men has been one of the most unpalatable and unjust features of second- and third-wave feminism. Men's faults, failings and foibles have been seized on and magnified into gruesome bills of indictment. Ideologue professors at our leading universities indoctrinate impressionable undergraduates with carelessly fact-free theories alleging that gender is an arbitrary, oppressive fiction with no basis in biology."

It is precisely this propaganda -- the idea that biology isn't real, and that men are prone to oppress women -- that's caused women so much anguish.

"Is it any wonder," asks Paglia, "that so many high-achieving young women find themselves in the early stages of their careers in chronic uncertainty or anxiety about their prospects for an emotionally fulfilled private life?"

It is no wonder at all. Women must accept that what they've been taught by the culture justisn't true. They will never be content until they do.

Suzanne Venker has written extensively about marriage and the family and its intersection with the culture. She is also the founder of Women for Men (WFM), a news and opinion website committed to improving gender relations and to providing much-needed support for the American male. To learn more about Suzanne, visit www.suzannevenker.com.